Equity Sensitivity and Gender Differences

Abstract

The study was intended to examine whether gender differences exist with regard to equity sensitivity between Korean female and male workers. Employing equity sensitivity theory to represent gender and individual differences in a collectivistic country such as Korea may allow internationally located organisations and their managers to understand and accommodate different behaviours of individuals in a different culture. Understanding individual and gender differences in a particular culture can enable organisations and managers to design equitable reward systems. A total of 400 survey packets were mailed to two regional universities in Korea. A total of 380 survey packages were returned, and 374 surveys were useable for data analysis. The results of the study illustrated that gender differences in equity sensitivity exist in Korea. Korean workers felt more entitled than did workers from other countries in earlier studies. The significant finding was that Korean female students felt more entitled than did Korean male participants and their behaviours as ‘entitleds’ was consistent with the dimensions of equity sensitivity theory.